Blending the performance of a small sport sedan with the comfortable ride of a luxury car, the Cadillac CT4 is a smart pick for anyone looking for a lively daily commuter that can inspire travels farther from home. Apart from its chiseled looks, the CT4 also combines sporty and comfortable front seats, an intuitive infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a generous set of standard safety features.
But it's the beating heart under the CT4's hood that makes it notable. The standard 2.0-liter turbo engine is swift enough, covering 0-60 mph in 6.2 seconds, according to Cadillac. That's a respectable, if not neck-whipping time. The optional 2.7-liter engine is the real star, however, offering 310 horsepower and covering the same ground in 4.8 seconds. This kind of performance sits neatly between the BMW 330i and Audi A4 and their high-performance versions, the BMW M340i and Audi S4. Along with its middle-ground size — larger than subcompact, slightly shorter than compact — this makes the CT4 something of a bargain, offering more elite performance for less cost.
But that cost-cutting isn't invisible. The CT4's tidier dimensions make for a tighter rear seat that, while capable of accommodating three people, is best for two adults. It also makes for a tiny trunk, one of the smallest among compact luxury sport sedans. Nearly all of the CT4's peers — the 3 Series, A4, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and Volvo S60 — offer more rear seat room and trunk space, making them more capable of small-family daily duties.
The CT4's underwhelming interior also fails to measure up to the classier cabins of BMW, Audi, and even the relative newcomer Genesis G70. The interior isn't bad — the design is uncluttered and soft-touch surfaces abound — but it doesn't quite measure up to the rest. We don't think it's a deal-breaker, though, and for drivers seeking a sport sedan with some luxury fixings at an attractive price, the CT4 is a worthy candidate.
